There are no cemeteries in Thailand. Funeral of the King of Thailand in October. Rules and recommendations for tourists

Almost 12 months ago, the beloved ruler of Thailand, Rama IX, passed away. He died on October 13, 2016. The sadness of the Thai people is limitless and it continues to this day. More than a million people came to the throne room of the king's palace in the capital of the state, Bangkok, to say goodbye to their adored monarch. Even now, in October 2017, a significant number of residents and guests of the country wear mourning clothes as a sign of grief for Bhumibol Adulyadej.

A date is approaching that no one wants to wait for - the day of the funeral - the ceremonial burning of the King's body. Many tourists are interested in how much the ceremony will affect their holiday in Thailand and how to behave correctly so as not to show disrespect or ridicule to the residents of the state, and is it even worth visiting an Asian country at such a moment in its history?

• October 13 has become a new mourning date in the Thai calendar in honor of the death of the beloved King;
• The funeral of Bhumibol Adulyadej will last 4 days - from October 25 to 29, 2017;
• The ritual of ceremonial cremation (burning of the body) will be performed in the middle of the week - October 26, 2017;
• This day will be officially declared a holiday in Thailand so that all residents can come to the ceremony;
• The Grand Palace of the King will be open only to tourists who wish to honor the memory of the ruler;
• This complex, as well as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, will close its doors to people for the entire second month of autumn (the residence will leave them open only for travelers) and will receive visitors only on its penultimate day;
• On October 7, 15 and 21, trial runs (rehearsals) of the procession will be held at Sanam Luang Square. Most likely, these events can be viewed and photographed provided that you wear modest mourning clothes;
• The crematorium, where the burning of the King’s body will take place, will be open throughout November, seven days a week, from 7:00 to 22:00;
• There will be no need to pay for travel on the Skytrain BTS (metro) systems on October 26. Also on October 25 and 27, routes between On Nut and Samrong, Wongwian Yai and Bang Wa stations will be open for travel.
• On October 25-27, 2017, trips on BRT buses between Sathon and Ratchapreuk stations will not cost passengers a penny.

Funeral schedule

25 October: Royal Merits will be presented. This ritual marks the beginning of the body burning ceremony in Grand Palace rulers of Thailand;

October 26: The body of the deceased monarch, embalmed and placed in a special sarcophagus, will be transferred to Sanam Luang Square, in a structure made of wood, which for a long time is built on it;

October 29: At 10:30 am, the relics will be enshrined in another throne room called Chakri Maha Prasat. The ashes that remain after the burning of the ruler will be divided and transferred in two urns to the temples of Wat Rajabopit and Wat Bowon.

Questions that tourists often ask

Question: Can anyone come to the funeral ceremony of the Thai monarch?

Answer: Yes, several hundred thousand people will attend the event. It is only important to wear something modest and, preferably, black. But entry to the burning ritual itself will be allowed only by invitations, which have been sent out in advance to the highest clergy, officials and close people of the King.

Question: Can every tourist, including me, take a photo at the funeral ceremony.

Answer: No. Only media representatives who have been accredited by the royal court will have the right to do this.

Question: Will the country's entertainment venues be open on funeral days?

Answer: Officially, their work is not prohibited, but it is likely that in the evenings, on the day of cremation, bars and clubs will be prohibited from opening their doors to visitors, and from October 25 to 27, a taboo will be introduced on the sale of alcohol.

Question: What clothes are best to wear on the days of the monarch's funeral?

Answer. You should only wear black and gray when attending mourning events.

Question: Will shops be allowed to open on the days of special ceremonies?

Answer: Most likely yes. Shopping centers in the country they never close at all.

Question: How will the temples in the capital of Thailand work?

Answer: All prayer houses, except the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, will function as usual.

Question: Is it possible and is it necessary to visit Bangkok during all mourning events?

Answer: The capital of Thailand is always beautiful. But it is worth remembering that there will be a large crowd of people in Sanam Luang Square and Khao San Road.

In general, today I will tell you about death in Thai. Or more precisely, about what Thai graves, crematoria, etc. look like. You can also read and see photographs of the funeral ritual itself in Thailand.

It is not customary in Thailand to bury the body of the deceased in the ground. Therefore, it is first burned in a crematorium.

Here, for example, is one of the cemeteries on the territory of the monastery on Samui.

Another type of burial of ashes is in the wall of the monastery. By the way, it’s quite an expensive pleasure)

Another method of burial.

And here is the Thai crematorium. There is one like this in almost every temple.

First day

We arrive in the village of my grandmother’s house, 100 kilometers from Chiang Mai, the town of Phrao. A hundred relatives and neighbors had already gathered there, everyone was busy preparing for the funeral. I didn’t notice any particular sadness; on the contrary, everyone was cheerful, working with passion, joking, and having fun. E and I are greeted joyfully.

We go into the house. I realized later that there was a coffin in the house. In the corner of the room there is something like a table on which there are flowers and a portrait of my grandmother. Incense smokes on the floor in front of him. E and I sat down and lit our sticks. There is immediately a conversation between relatives - many have not seen each other for a long time, they have come from all over the country, and are talking cheerfully.

We go out into the yard. Or even into courtyards. There is food and local rice moonshine on the tables. During the work process, citizens come up, have a drink and a snack. One of them had already had a good snack and fell asleep in one of the houses. Everyone makes fun of him, invites him to the table, drinks, chats. By the way, only men drink.

In the main courtyard they are making a bamboo house, foam walls, windows, a door, and steps. The whole thing is decorated with foam plastic painted arabesques, colored foil, the house is painted, garlands are hung, curtains, lighting - new Toshiba fluorescent lamps.”

“They brought a gun carriage into the yard. They begin to build another complex structure on it to install the coffin. The result was something 3 full floors high, arabesques, bells, everything was painted, a lot small parts, lighting, flashlights. We stretch the tent from above. This is some kind of festival!”

“I’m going to another yard. There E is busy filling bamboo sticks with rice. Nearby, meat is being chopped on a wooden platform. I take off my shoes, sit on the platform, and chop. Only men deal with meat. We chat happily, and while we work, they bring us drinks and snacks to make our work more fun.

In the end, the meat should be almost minced. We take a piece of meat (beef and pork), cut it into pieces, add liver and blood and start chopping the whole thing with cleavers until it becomes minced meat. I’ve been doing this for about an hour, gradually getting together with the guys.

E calls, let's go, like, say goodbye to grandma. The guys thank me for my help and call me Somchai. I give it out in a tongue twister:

Somchai pen nong Sompong, Sompong pen pi Somchai - they are all lying around.

E warns: “Thirak, don’t get too drunk, the main drinking will be in the evening, take care of yourself.”

A table was opened in the house, which turned out to be a white carved coffin. All the relatives passed, said goodbye, the women wiped away a woman’s miserly tears, and the coffin was closed. We take the coffin, take it out of the house and put it on a gun carriage. Grandma’s favorite pillow, her purse and some personal items are already there.

In the courtyard they set up concert acoustics at 10 kilowatts. So, I think there will also be a disco. The last speakers are dragged in using ladders - yes, with such sound you can pump up neighboring villages! The musicians arrived and brought instruments and equipment. Preparations are coming to an end. Everyone goes home to rest and change clothes for the holiday... er... event.
In the evening, all the illumination on the gun carriage, house and trees is lit. Four monks arrived, everyone sat down, we listened to the suttas. Then we move into the house. There are already suttas in random order for those interested. I receive a talisman on my hand.

Second day.

All day long there are suttas, music, food, drinks, fun. Red Bull bottles filled with special water are carried around, and those present are “sprinkled” with it.

Day three.

We're going to the final funeral.

This morning no one drinks, everyone is busy with the bustle.

We take the house in our arms and carry it to the temple. There is food in the house. As the healthiest person present, I always have the honorable responsibility of carrying the heaviest objects. I hear all the time: “Farang... Farang...” - people are having fun. Everyone takes pictures with me against the backdrop of the carriage, as if I were a curiosity - it seems there have never been farangs in these places. Then it became clear that the reason for the increased interest was different.

After an hour of sutras in the temple, we return to the deceased and prepare to move the carriage with the structure and coffin to the cremation site. 2 ropes of 50 meters each are tied to the carriage. All those present (already more than 100 people) take hold of the ropes. The cremation site is about a kilometer away. Along the way, firecrackers explode, there is a terrible roar, young maidens are screaming, children are having fun with all their might. We’ve arrived.”

“We remove the coffin with the body from the gun carriage and carry it onto a special concrete slab. Special workers open the coffin and take out the body. The coffin is carried away and its legs are broken off. The body in ordinary clothes is placed on the slab. A responsible comrade breaks 2 coconuts over the head of the deceased and pours coconut juice over the body. Next, the closest relatives, including me, pour water from a mug on the body one by one - the last ablution before the road to eternity. The deceased is placed back in the coffin.

We take the coffin to a pedestal with firewood, the entire healthy structure from the carriage is placed on top, a cable is nailed to it and pyrotechnics are installed.

Last speeches, last honors, prayers. A rocket is launched along a cable to the structure, which ignites pyrotechnics on the structure, fireworks, sparks, fire...”

“As soon as the fire starts, everyone gets into their cars and goes to get something to eat. Later the ashes will be scattered by the wind. The celebration of death has come to an end.

Why, exactly, be sad? The woman lived a decent life, gave birth to and raised a bunch of children, died with dignity, and will be reborn again in a new status, based on her life’s merits. None of those present doubts this.”

The ashes are placed in urns and kept in the house. For this purpose, a small room is allocated where guests are not allowed, only relatives. Offerings are brought to the dead and incense is lit.

Thais firmly believe in reincarnation, so the death of loved ones is not such a grief as for us.

The deceased is washed only by close relatives, then he is transported to the monastery and 4 monks all day long read prayers. The family of the deceased feeds these monks, as well as those who come to say goodbye to the deceased. And everyone can come, including those who never saw the deceased during his lifetime, that is, to eat)) Therefore, poor families keep the deceased for 1, maximum 2 days. Whereas the rich take up to 7 days. Then the body is cremated, right there in the monastery. If someone from the royal family is buried, the crematorium is no longer used.

Those who have money bring ashes to temples and build a pagoda. Those who are poorer are placed in common pagodas, like mass grave. On the territory of any temple a large number of pagodas They are very beautiful: a cone-shaped structure, all in bright mosaics. Ashes are laid at the foundation.

Or maybe he’ll marry his dead girlfriend)

In Thailand, near every residential building or institution there is always a small house for the Gods.
Buddhism, Hinduism and Islamism coexist peacefully in this country.
Initially, Siam professed Hinduism and worshiped many gods. When Buddha came, he asked the gods to allow him to be 3 steps around him. The gods, of course, allowed it. Just think 3 steps around you. BUT!!! They didn't know what the Buddha's steps were. Having already taken 2 steps, he walked all over the earth and sky. The gods prayed: - Where should we live?! To which Buddha replied: - Live next to people, let them build you houses and take care of you!))
How and where to install a house is a whole science! Before moving into the house, a specially trained person is called to find a place for the house. It is important that the shadow of the house does not fall on it and vice versa.

Thais firmly believe in gods. They bring food, gifts and incense 3 times a day!!! It is believed that if you do not build a house, then things will not go well, the business will burn out and all the misfortunes of the world will fall on your head. There are specialized stores selling houses. Prices vary from 1-2 thousand baht to 50-70 or even 100 thousand. The house looks like a square coffee table on a high leg and a roof on 4 supports, naturally, in the oriental style))) In front of it, a little lower, is placed another “coffee table”, but without a roof. Offerings are placed on it.
Moreover, these houses often look more beautiful than the home itself)))

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full list the best houses and villas for rent on Koh Samui. Rent a house without intermediaries - this is where the perfect holiday in Thailand begins! Welcome! On the way from Samui to Malaysia, in the border town of Sadao, we decided to visit a Buddhist monastery for the last time. The abbot of the monastery received us as the most honored guests. We were given not just a cell, but

whole house

. Only a few monks lived in the monastery.

By the time we washed ourselves, washed our clothes and sorted out our things, it was already getting dark.

Let's go for a walk! - suggested Natalya, who had only been traveling around Thailand for two weeks and still retained a thirst for vigorous activity.

Yes, we can go explore the territory,” I agreed.

It had already become completely dark when the three “white monkeys” went out for a walk. After 300 meters the sounds of music reached us, and then lights appeared.

There’s some kind of party there!” the girls exclaimed. - I wonder what it is? Let's go there!

As we got closer, we saw a stage where a live orchestra was playing behind a white screen, and a shadow theater was unfolding on the screen itself. There were tables nearby under a canopy. There were quite a lot of people. I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I’ve already been traveling in Thailand for 6 months. This is clearly some kind of holiday, everyone is happy and laughing.

“So what, normal music, you can dance,” Natalya did not let up, and immediately imitated several dance movements.

Wait, maybe you can’t dance here,” I tried to calm the girls down, “the locals are all looking at us.”

We simply could not go unnoticed, and two young guys with joyful faces and chairs hurried towards us.

Hello! Sit down please!

We were given a glass of Coca-Cola.

Are you having a holiday here? Disco? - Natalya tried to ask

Our Thai friend's English level left much to be desired.

Holiday... music...

Yes Yes…

And dancing! Disco?!

Disco?.. No, no disco!

No? Why?

The Thai just shook his head, shrugged his shoulders and spread his arms, which meant: “Sorry, my English is very bad.”

“Okay, there’s no disco, so at least let’s listen to music,” Natalya calmed down. - They probably also serve kin-kau here.

"Kin-kaw" in Thai means to eat (literally translated, it means "to eat rice"). Hearing Magic word our Thai friend perked up:

Want some kin-kaw? - and pointing to the large pots against the wall, he offered to take whatever he wanted.

Without thinking twice, we dialed different dishes and joined in the merry feast.

Well, let’s have dinner one more time, I love Thai food,” I said.

Yes, it’s great that we came here, I just wonder what they’re celebrating anyway? - Natalya answered.

Maybe it’s some kind of Buddhist holiday today,” I suggested, “it’s a pity that they hardly speak English, you can’t really ask.”

Then the Thai man again appeared near our table and invited us.

Would you like a beer?

Wow they are having a party! - I was surprised. - No, thanks, we don't drink beer. Tea, coffee - OK.

Oh, you’re from Russia, then here’s... vodka.

We never expected such a turn:

Yes, no, thank you, we better tea... Is it possible to drink on the territory of the monastery?

In general, you can’t, but today you can, have a drink, today we… my family has a big holiday,” the Thai answered.

He himself, judging by his appearance, had already taken advantage of the opportunity mentioned above several times and this, oddly enough, had noticeably improved his English.

What kind of event is this that you can drink even in a Buddhist monastery, probably something special, for example, a wedding,” I remarked in Russian.

“Today is a very big holiday for my grandmother,” our Thai friend came into contact again. - My family has a big holiday!

So what is your grandmother celebrating? Is it her birthday?

My grandmother died yesterday, and that's why today is a big holiday for us. My grandmother is lying there behind the screen. Let's go have a look!

With our mouths open in surprise, we followed the grandson of the hero of the occasion. Wow, a coffin! Beautiful, I wouldn’t refuse this myself!..

This is my grandmother,” the grandson pointed to the photo. - And this is my family...

The relatives sitting on the sofa greeted us cheerfully. Here's a disco for you...

Can we take a photo with the coffin in the background? - I asked.

Yes, of course, no problem,” the Thai agreed without hesitation.

But we immediately noticed that the music had a strange tint. It's fun to be escorted here last way, not like ours, you can’t immediately tell where you are - for a birthday or a funeral. In Malaysia, in principle, it’s the same - whether a wedding or a funeral, there’s little difference.

The king of the country died more than a year ago, but according to tradition, his funeral took place many months after the death of the royal person. The farewell ceremony lasted 5 days and ended with the cremation of the remains.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) of Thailand, who died on October 13, 2016, was buried a year later. This tradition of delayed funerals is associated with the lengthy preparation that precedes the ceremony and the observance of mourning. All this time, the body of the embalmed monk was in the throne room of the Dusit Maha Prasat palace.

This year, more than 5 million people came to say goodbye to their beloved king. Many came from distant villages. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was loved by the Thais not just as a monarch, for whom the people of Thailand have a very special attitude, but also for his personal qualities. He loved books, was merciful and was believed to have led the country to economic recovery. Despite a series of terrorist attacks and the turbulent last few years before his death with coup d'etat in 2014, the monarch remained the most beloved ruler in the country's history. Taking the throne in 1946, he ruled until his death.

During the year of mourning, during which many employees own initiative They wore only white clothes (white is the color of mourning), and a 50-meter funeral complex was built. Hundreds of Thai craftsmen took part in its creation. This large territory, on which, in addition to the burial place, there are 4 ponds, a reservoir, a rice field, and a windmill.

The authors of the project were landscape architect Porntham Thammawimol and the Department Fine Arts Thailand.

Funeral arrangements began on October 25, 2017. On the morning of October 26, the sarcophagus with the remains of the king was loaded onto a chariot that had once been specially built for the funeral of monarchs. It is decorated with naga heads. These are snake-like mythical creatures, storing the drink of immortality.

200-year-old chariot" a great victory" moves with the help of 222 military personnel. Because of the chariot, the remaining participants in the ceremony were forced to master a special ceremonial step.

Thousands of Thais came to say goodbye to the King. 2406 people take part in the procession. They cover a relatively short distance to Sanam Luang Square (890 m) in 2 hours.

Many of those who came to see the King off on his last journey felt ill. During the 5 days of the funeral ceremony in Bangkok, medical teams were on duty around the clock. Volunteers distributed free food and water.

The remains of the deceased are placed on a platform inside the funerary complex, in the center of which there is an elevation symbolizing Mount Meru. After death, according to Thai beliefs, the souls of royalty are sent to it after physical death. As a sign of respect, funeral flowers are laid on the platform.

Only members of the royal family are present at the cremation ceremony itself. The beginning of the moment of cremation on the Main Square was recognized by the smoke that began to rise above main tower crematorium.

Replicas of the crematorium were installed throughout the country. After the cremation fire was lit in Bangkok, ceremonial pyres were also lit in other areas of the province. The ashes of the burnt sandalwood were then scattered in the wind over the Gulf of Thailand, the Andaman Sea, small rivers and lakes.

Following the cremation ceremony, the third day of the funeral is dedicated to collecting the ashes of the late king. All collected ashes are divided into 6 ritual urns, which will be sent to Buddhist temples.

On the 4th day, a Buddhist ritual of prayer for the soul takes place in the throne room of Dusit Maha Prasat in the great royal palace. The funeral ceremony ends with the donation of food to Buddhist monks, after which one urn with ashes is placed in the Chakri tomb, located on the territory of the Great royal palace, others go to Wat Ratchabofit and Wat Bowonniwet.